NCAA rules UT's Maurice Couch permanently ineligible

The University of Tennessee football team announced through its Twitter account Friday that senior defensive lineman Maurice Couch has been ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA.

UT will appeal the ruling.

Couch was ruled ineligible on Sept. 12 after a Yahoo Sports report named him as one of several current and former players who received money from a liaison to NFL agents.

During Tennessee's 45-10 loss to No. 1 Alabama last Saturday, Couch posted a series of tweets. He expressed an eagerness to return to the team and said he hasn't received clearance from the NCAA. In response to a question from a fan, Couch said the NCAA was still playing the "quiet game." Couch also hinted at his motivation for taking money, tweeting he was a "father first."